Blog-oluions 2016

As you know we are a group of 13 bloggers from all across the globe and, as much as we all love blogging, we all have our struggles with it too!

To help get our blogging game back on track and focus our minds for the coming year we are inviting you to link up with us and share you 'blog-olutions' for 2016.

It's really easy to take part- copy the image above and paste it into your post then write about;

1 thing you will strive to do every month on your blog

2 things you are hoping to do with your blog in 2016

3 linkys you will be joining in with in 2016

Then head back here, link up and read some of the other posts- who knows you might find some inspiration amongst other's blog-olutions!

Making Connections!!!

It was really just this year that I learned the value of making those connections with others… outside of my comfortable, imperfect, little bubble! Social media, mainly Instagram, has brought some very special people into my life <see below for pics of those gorgeous faces>. And when I think back, I never (No, really. NEVER.) dreamed of sharing my life with others who I barely knew (ok, don’t know at all) nor become so intrigued by the lives OF others. It was your typical mentality of #aintnobodygottimeforthat. Let’s face it, we’re all busy. I get it. I have a full-time career, a husband, 3 kids, family, and friends that I have loved for over 20+ years.However, I couldn’t feel more grateful for falling into that Social Media hole and opening my heart and social media doors to everyone (Well, almost everyone. #saynotocreepers). My life has forever changed… in and out of the classroom.

Lurking around Instagram, I found that there are thousands of talented educators who were sharing their “amazingness” with little ol’ me! I mean, people were giving away freebies for goodness sakes! What-the-what?! As an educator, how do you not take advantage of gaining more knowledge, extra time to now do something else because someone has handed you a product that would’ve taken you hours to create?! Hello? Did you hear me?! Time is priceless and people are handing it to me on a silver platter (with maybe some polka-dots, chevron, and cute font)! I mean… #icanteven. <sideline: I love hashtags. Get used to it.> Responding, appreciating, “liking”, and simply making those connections on social media has made me a better educator for each and every one of my students. Because no matter what anyone says… it IS all about them. Arming them with all of the resources, knowledge, and heart to live a happy and good life is our ultimate goal! Despite what is going on in your personal life and relationships with other colleagues, the sight of this goal should never be lost. So, it became clear that I needed to “make the time for that.” The vibe and passion in my classroom now is ever-so-present and palpable. Thank you, social media.

Then came TPT, Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Google Hangouts, Voxer, and BLAB. Most of us screamed, “Noooo, not one more! No more! I can’t!” And then it became, “Oh. Wait, what?! Real-time? I can see, talk to you?! Ummm,wait... you have an accent?! You’re going through the same crap hardships as me?” Before I knew it, people from all over the world were joining together to share ideas about building their edu-empire, classroom management, technology in the classrooms, troubled students, stress management, keeping healthy, stretching out your dollar <because we is teachers and we is broke>, and your product sucks, but let me tell you why… the list is endless. You will always find at least one topic that you can connect with another person on. Always. Teacher communities are popping up all over the place! Besties are being made! Voices are being heard! Educators are being supported! Students are thriving! Happy Classrooms! Happy teachers! We are teachers, hear us ROAR!!!! Ahhh. Who the heck cannot find the value in making connections?!

Well, if I haven’t convinced you of the importance and value of making those connections with the outside world yet, I’m stunned, listen up, because the best part is coming… Making connections with others will surprisingly bring people into your life that you could never imagine living without. I’m pretty keen on what is going on around me and what will happen next (because I like to think that I know just about everything. What?! I do! Ask my husband.) However, I NEVER suspected that I would meet people from online, all over the world, and pray each night that God keeps them forever safe and healthy, for fear that my heart couldn’t endure such heartbreak. 

Some I have never met in person….

Some that don’t know that I’m their best friend YET… 

   

 


And some that I’ve had the privilege of going out to dinner with, and texting on a daily basis with...

 

 

Yup. I’ve. Fallen. Hard. Having groups of people, communities, constantly telling me, “You can do it! Don’t listen to them! Try this! I love you!” is mind-blowing.

Putting yourself out there, making meaningful relationships with others, will bring you the greatest of surprises that you never thought imaginable. Your life may seem as if it is crumbling down all around you, but “those people” that you once “replied to”, “followed”, or simply “liked” have a knack for glimmering that sliver of light into your path that you were too blind to see on your own. The funny part, they have no idea of how they’ve blessed your life. No clue. I find that amusing. And it’s always the most clueless that make the biggest of impacts. Juggling that humbleness and greatness is no easy feat, people! They make their way into your heart in the most heart-skipping-beat kind of way. You. Will. Be. Amazed.

This post most certainly wouldn't have been possible if Global Glitter Tribe hadn't reached out to me and "make that connection." #forevergrateful

Who has made their way into your heart from that simple online connection? Tell me! I love a #juicystory!

~Janice

Making Connections with Educators Around the World

Hello!  I feel honored to have been asked to write a guest blog post for the Global Glitter Tribe about making connection with educators around the world.  My name is Angie Olson and I am the blogger behind Lucky Little Learners.  Those who know me know that I am passionate about connecting via social media with other amazing educators around the world.  I am here today to share with you some ways you can do this yourself!  I feel so strongly about the importance of connecting with others that I put together a presentation for my school district.  Here are some highlights about each social media platform to help you reach out and get connected today!

Are you on Twitter?  Twitter has been around since 2006.  Twitter is a great social media platform to connect with other educators.  I like to think of it as the world's most positive teacher's lounge!  It is also free and is available at your fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I like to think of it as microblogging and NO FLUFF professional development.  When I started, I didn't understand what the big deal was with Twitter.  I followed some suggested tweeters (a.k.a. Justin Beiber, Oprah, Ellen Degeneres) and away I went.  That was the problem...I didn't follow the right people!  Start there!  Build your tribe.  Search hashtags and follow the people that provide content.  Some of my favorite hashtags include #2getherwearebetter #happyclassrooms #youmatter  Speaking of hashtags, did you know there is a website out there devoted to all things educational hashtags?  Check it out!  It does start slow but builds quickly.  By the way, it is okay to lurk or creep around Twitter for awhile.  I did this for about six months and then decided it was time to move away from consuming and move towards producing.  That was when the followers really started to come!  Once you are up and running with Twitter, don't be afraid to join Twitter chats!  Here is a link to some education twitter chats.  Twitter chats are a great way to build you professional learning network (PLN).

Next up...INSTAGRAM!  Instagram was born in 2010.  Believe it or not, this is my FAVORITE social media platform because I am such a visual learner.  Instagram is blowing up with teachers over the last year and I can understand why!  Teachers love visuals.  Teachers love color.  Teachers love fonts.  Teachers love quotes.  Teachers love to be inspired.  Teachers love Instagram.

As an educator, I gain lesson plan ideas, book suggestions, anchor chart examples, school outfit ideas, but most importantly, I gain true, genuine friendships with other passionate educators.  These friendships extend past Instagram too!  After months and months of connecting with other teachers, you start to feel like you know them as a colleague or even friend.  If you're lucky, you may even arrange to meet up for the weekend for a shopping trip or conference!

You may not be on Twitter or Instagram but I feel like everybody and their mother is on Facebook.  This is probably the most popular social media platform because it's been around the longest.  Facebook was founded in 2004 and currently has 1.19 billion active users.  Wow!  Teachers really started to take over Facebook about six years ago and it continues to be a popular platform for sharing ideas and connecting with other educators.

My friend Emily Liscom from Education to the Core wrote a great blog post that provides a list of 15 teacher pages to follow on Facebook.  I would have to agree with her list, I follow them all!

Periscope, oh how I love thee!  Are you on Periscope?  Have you heard of it?  Periscope is a live streaming app and relatively new...coming out in spring of 2015.  When I first heard of Periscope, I watched a few broadcasts but didn't see the value in it for educators.  Then in June of 2015, I had an epiphany!  I knew I was going to be at the Teachers Pay Teacher conference in July of 2015 and thought it would be a great opportunity to go live with my bloggy friends and see what happens.  I shared my thoughts with my bloggy bestie Ashley from Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd and the rest is history. Well, it wasn't that easy.  We did our research, followed some successful Periscopers, and wrote a couple of blog posts.  Those can be found by clicking on the images below.

Since July of 2015 the Periscope community has exploded!  I LOVE it!  Teachers are taking their art, craft, creativity, and talent and making Periscope their own.  Teachers are so generous to share their tips, knowledge, and classrooms with their viewers!  I also love the fact that Periscope is live video streaming that allows you to interact with other educators live.  If you haven't tried Periscope yet, you MUST try it!

Last but not least, BLAB!  Do you blab?  This social media platform is the newest platform that I know of today (September 11, 2015).  I feel like blab is an enhanced version of Periscope with a twist.  Blab is a live video streaming app.  Four people can chat in person on one screen while the rest of the viewers are contributing to the conversation via typed comments.  Teachers are just starting to get into this platform and occasionally you see advertisements for Teacher Blab Shows and such being shown on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  I can't wait to watch this platform evolve!

I hope that this blog post gave you a quick summary of how each social media platform works as well as the benefits.  My challenge to you would be to pick a platform and try it out.  Start small.  When you feel comfortable, try another one.  Don't limit yourself to the four walls of your classroom or school.  There are so many talented, passionate, positive, amazing educators out there that are ready to connect with you!  Push yourself out of your comfort zone.  Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Launch Giveaway!

Hey you lovely lot!

We are soooooo excited to be launching our blog at long last!!! Eeek!

Thanks so much for coming and joining us as we launch the most 

glittertastic blog the globe has ever seen!

Global Glitter Blog is made up of 12 crazy, happy and dedicated teachers from all walks of life, countries and cultures and we have come together to share our passion for fashion…erm… sorry, teaching with all of our lovely teacher-friends out there.

As well as some fantastic guest posts (click here to read the awe-inspiring Angie Olson's post), we will be bringing to you a jam-packed post EVERY month filled with ideas for anything from how to create an awareness of global warming to resources and activities for Earth Day to how the school day runs in different time zones!

We will also be hosting a super-duper monthly link-up where you can hop around and gain a whole host of ideas and make new friends!

So onto the REALLY exciting stuff…..the give-away!!!

We are so proud to have so many amazing teacher-blogger friends kind enough to provide awesome prizes for you!

Hands up if you could do with a little 'Teach Happy' in your life or a classroom run on Brag Tags? 

I know my room is full of Glitter Meets Glue clipart and I would die for a 

set of Aly's new editable labels! 

Of course no self respecting Teacher giveaway would be complete without the Amazon, Starbucks and Erin Condren sweeteners either!! 

How to Enter

Start at the Global Glitter Tribe IG (@globalglittertribe), collect your letter and then click on the picture to visit the next IG account taking part- there are 5 on IG in total. 

Once you've collected all 5 letters from IG then head back here and follow the steps 

in the Rafflecopter below! 

Don't forget to include our blog letter which is, of course, G- this makes it 6 letters to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We will be revealing the winner on Wednesday 16th September so keep your eyes peeled! 

Huge thanks to-